Ontario Seniors Driving Test 2026: What the 80+ Renewal Actually Involves

Is there a written test for Ontario drivers aged 80 and over?

No. The Ontario renewal programme for drivers aged 80 and over does not include a test of road rules or traffic signs. The words "knowledge test" and "written test" do not appear anywhere on the Ministry of Transportation page that sets out the process.

What the appointment does involve is two things: a vision assessment and a 5-minute screening exercise. The screening exercise is done on paper, and it is a clock-drawing task, not a quiz.

The four steps, in the Ministry's own order

Step 1: watch the educational video and review the Driver's Handbook

The Ministry asks you to watch its educational video and look over the Official MTO Driver's Handbook before your appointment.

Step 2: book an appointment

The renewal session is by appointment.

Step 3: go to your appointment

Bring the eyeglasses or contact lenses you need in order to drive, a hearing aid if you use one, and original identification showing your legal name, date of birth and signature if your licence has already expired. At the session you complete the vision assessment and the 5-minute screening exercise.

Step 4: pay your renewal fee

The renewal fee is $36, paid at ServiceOntario. Your new licence is sent by mail in 4 to 6 weeks.

What the 5-minute screening exercise actually is

The Ministry describes it as a brief, non-computerised assessment that you have five minutes to finish. It is a clock-drawing exercise, and in the Ministry's words it "measures a driver's capacity to recognize and organize information".

In outline, you are asked to draw a large circle, fill in all the numbers so that it looks like the face of a clock, and draw the hands to show a given time. The form is collected after five minutes.

Two details worth knowing: the exercise does not depend on language, and it cannot be taken orally. The Ministry publishes the instructions in a number of languages. For the exact official wording and the translations, read the Ministry's own page, linked below.

Source: Ontario Ministry of Transportation, ontario.ca/page/renew-g-drivers-licence-80-years-and-over, verified 5 November 2026

What can happen after the session

For most people the renewal ends there. The Ministry does say that after the session you may need to do one or more of the following:

• pass a road test
• follow up with your doctor and submit medical information
• provide additional vision information from a doctor or optometrist

If additional medical information is needed, the Ministry notifies you by mail. A road test is a possible outcome, not a routine part of the renewal.

Practising for an Ontario licence test

If you are helping a new driver in the family rather than renewing your own licence, the Ontario G1 knowledge test is a different process entirely, and it does test road rules and traffic signs. You can practise it free here:

G1 practice test Ontario · Ontario road signs practice test · M1 practice test Ontario

Source: Ontario Ministry of Transportation, ontario.ca/page/renew-g-drivers-licence-80-years-and-over, verified 5 November 2026